T-SQL Tuesday #59 – My Hero

T-SQL Tuesday is a recurring blog party, that is started by Adam Machanic (Blog | @AdamMachanic). Each month a blog will host the party, and everyone that want’s to can write a blog about a specific subject.

This month the subject is “My Hero”. If you want to read the opening post, please click the image below to go to the party-starter: Tracy McKibben (Blog | @RealSQLGuy).

Everybody needs a hero. Ever kid needs a champion. Someone you look up to. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, everybody needs that. If you don’t have a hero to look up to, it’s hard to dream big.

The unsung heroes
Not all heroes are out there like we expect them to be. There are some heroes that like to stay below the radar. But does that make them any less of a hero than a hero that is really out there? I don’t think so. But defining a hero is much easier when it’s a person that is well known by the community.

If you take one of the most known people out there, for example Thomas LaRock (Blog | @SQLRockstar), Brent Ozar (Blog | @BrentO), or Grant Fritchey (Blog | @GFritchey). Do you define those people as heroes? I know I do. They make an effort for the community, help people wherever they can, and they are working to make us all better SQL Server Professionals. But they are out there, and are widely acknowledged as heroes by many people. So defining those people as heroes, even though they are, is easy. It’s praising the unsung heroes that is hard.

The fallen heroes
There’s a well known saying that says: “All that glitters is not gold”. And that also goes for the heroes in the community. In the end, they are just people like you and me. They have good and bad character traits like everyone else. But some heroes turn villain in the end. They use their fame to get what they want, or mistreat other people for not being the hero they are. Unfortunately I know a few of those “heroes” as well…

But does mistreating people make that hero a little less of a hero? I think it does. Even heroes can fall of their pedestal. And even though people find you a hero, you can’t mistreat other people, or tell them they’re less than you. If you’re the hero, it’s your mission to lead other people to victory. Not to put them down, and convince them they can’t do something.

Become a hero
A hero can come in many shapes and sizes. And you don’t become a hero overnight (even though that would make things easier sometimes). It takes a lot of effort to become a hero, and to be seen as the hero. And you know what? They make it look so easy, and that’s their strength and weakness at the same time.

So when are you becoming a hero? What are your plans to become a hero? What steps do you need to take now, in a week, in a month, or even in a year? You can’t become a hero you say? Yes you can! Everybody can become a hero! Just try it, by giving back to the community. Answer questions on forums, write blogs, start presenting, anything is possible!